POLICE who found a St Ninians flat being used as a cannabis den discovered youngsters – one aged just 13 – inside.

Stirling Sheriff Court heard last Friday that cops went to an address in MacDonald Drive on an unrelated matter on December 2. Their attention was soon drawn to another flat nearby as pungent smoke was billowing out of it.

A subsequent check found that Liam McCartney’s home contained a number of individuals, including some juveniles, and that the flat was full of smoke.

Fiscal depute Sonia Kalkat said: “Police witnesses saw smoke coming from within and there was a strong smell of cannabis.

“They saw the accused McCartney and another standing in the doorway. Access was granted by the accused.”

Ms Kalkat said that one of the individuals found in the flat was aged 13. There were also two 15-year-olds, a 16-year-old and two 19-year-olds.

McCartney (23) pleaded guilty to knowingly allowing his home to be used for the smoking of cannabis, a class B drug.

Solicitor Harry Coughlin said that McCartney had since moved out of the property to stay with his family because of this case.

Mr Coughlin added: “He was within the property at that time. His position is that these young boys were making life very difficult for him and his partner.

“There was regular knocking on his door and demanding to use his premises to smoke cannabis. In his own words he was worn down.

“I think in reality Mr McCartney is the one that was put upon by the local youths. He is a relatively vulnerable individual.”

Sheriff Mark Thorley fined McCartney £225, reduced from £300 due to his early guilty plea.